Apparatus and method for forming a decorative fringe



June 1, 1965 H. s. GALE 3,136,442

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING A DECORATIVE FRINGE Filed Sept. 4, 19622 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

June 1, 1965 H. e. GALE 3,186,442

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING A DECORATIVE FRINGE Filed Sept. 4, 19622 Sheets-Sheet 2 III mil I ll

United States Patent 0 3,186,442 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING ADECORATIVE FRINGE Harold Graeme Gale, 327 Balaclava Read, Cauifield,Victoria, Australia Filed Sept. 4-, 1962, Ser. No. 221,065 7 Claimspriority, application Australia, Sept. 7, 1961, V 8,969/ 61 13 Claims.(Cl. 139-118) This invention relates to fringes used for decorativepurposes on clothing, towels, curtains, blinds, furniture or the likeand comprising a band of fabric having a plurality of free lengths ofthread or yarn projecting from and attached to one longitudinal edge ofthe band. At present fringes of this type are produced by a knitting orweaving operation in known machines set up in a special but knownmanner. It is common practice to use in conjunction with a fringe a tapewhich is attached at one edge, by sewing, to the edge of the fringe bandfrom which the threads or yarns project.

The fringe band and the attached tape form what is known in the trade asa pocket into which is inserted the marginal portionof the piece ofmaterial or fabric f to which the fringe is to be attached by sewing.

At present the tape is produced in a separate operato the fringe.Accordingly the costs of production of a complete fringe and tapeassembly is comparatively expensive.

it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a fringehaving a tape as an integral part thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method ofproducing an integral fringe and tape in one operation.

The final object of the invention is to provide a machine to producetheintegral fringe and tape in accordance with the above method, whichmachine is simple in constmction and has a high output rate.

With the above stated principal object in view there is providedaccording to the present invention a compo site decorative fringecomprising a band portion composed of thread, a free thread portion, anda tape portion, said free-threaded portion being comprised of aplurality of free lengths of thread attached to and projecting from onelongitudinal edge of said band portion, said tape portion being composedof thread and being secured to said band portion adjacent saidlongitudinal edge by the interlocking-of respective threads of whichsaid band portion and'tape portion are composed.

Conveniently the band and the tape are produced simultaneously byweaving operations and the weft threads of the tape portion are loopedaround complementary weft threads of the band portion. i i

With the above stated further object in view there is provided accordingto the present invention a method of producing in a single machine acomposite decorative fringe having a band portion, a free thread portionand a tape portion, comprising weaving the band portion with transversethreads extending beyond one longitudinal edge to form the free threadportion of the fringe, simultaneously weaving the tape portion, andinterlocking the threads of the tape portion with threads of the bandportion along said longitudinal edge.

More specifically there is provided a method of producing a singlemachine, a composite decorative fringe have a band portion, a freethread portion, and a tape portion comprising setting up band and tapesheds in superimposed relation, weaving a continuous band weft threadthrough the band warp shed and extending said ice first weft thread asubstantial distance beyond one edge of the band warp to form threads ofthe free thread portion, simultaneously weaving a continuous tape weftthread through the tape warp shed, and looping said tape weft thread atleast once around the complementary band weft thread during a completereturning pass of the tape weft thread.

By weaving the fringe in accordance with this method the three portionsof the fringe are produced simultaneously and are secured together bythe weft of the tape portion being interlocked with the weft of the bandportion.

With the above stated final object in view there is provided accordingto the present invention a weaving machine for making a compositedecorative fringe having a band portion, a free thread portion and atape portion, comprising means for supporting and subjectingsuperimposed band and tape warp sheds to an alternating weavingmovement, means to pass a continuous band weft thread through the bandwarp shed so as to form a thread of the free thread portion on one sideof said band warp shed, and means to pass a continuous tape weft threadthrough the tape warp shed, said tape weft thread passing means beingarranged to loop the tape weft thread around the band weft thread onceduring each complete returning movement of the means to pass the tapeweft thread.

Conveniently the band and tape weft threads are passed through therespective warp sheds by oscillating members, the path of the membercarrying the tape weft threadbeing controlled by cam. means to cross thepath of the member carrying the band weft thread. The timed relation ofthe movement of the two oscillating members being such that the membercarrying the band weft thread passes twice between the tape weft threadand the member carrying it, while the members are in a crossed relation.

The invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescripiton of one practical arrangement t manufacturing of the fringefabric.

of the fringe and the apparatus for manufacturing same as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

In the drawingsr FIG. 1 is a magnified perspective View of a piece ofthe fringe fabric.

FIG. 2 is a perspective plan view of the apparatus for manufacturing thefringe fabric.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate progressive stages in the FIG. 7 is adetailed view of the hook member.

Referring now to FIG. 1 the fringe fabric comprises a band portion 10having. warp threads 12 and interweaved double passed weft threads 11.Each double passed thread 11 projects beyond the edge 13 of the band toform a twisted free thread. portion 14. The tape portion 15 has warpthreads 16 and interweaved double passed weft threads 17 each of whichis looped at 18 around the complementary double passed weft threads 11of the band portion.

In use the marginal portion of a piece of. material is inserted betweenthe integral band and tape which are then sewn to the material.

Referring now to FIG. 2 the machine for manufacturing the integralfringe and tape includes the conventional arrangement of healdsand reed,and other operating mechanism to support and actuate two superimposedwarp sheds in the known manner.

The warp threads 16 of the tape warp shed are superimposed of thethreads 12 of the band warp shed and each set are operated by separatehealds so arranged that, in each of the two alternate operatingpositions of the healds during the weaving operation, the top threads of1 theband warp shed are located in substantially the same horizontalplane as the bottom threads of the tape warp 2.4 is-attached to the pin23 and coupled through the adjustable length link 25 to the lay 21 ofthe Weaving machine to effect an oscillatory angular movement of the pin23. Attached tothe pin 23 are twohorizontal weft I inserting ar'ms26'and 27 respectively.

The arm 26 has fixed thereto the arcuate shaped band I weft tube '39through which the band weft thread 11 passes. The arm 27 carries twobearing blocks 32 in which 'the'tape weft tube 31 is journalled forangular movement "about a horizontal'axis. The tape weft thread 17passes through the tape weft tube 31. g p

The tape'weft'tube'31 carries an arm 29 which is con- 'nected by'theSpring 33 to the weft arm 27. A suitable "-stop is provided so that 'thesprings 33 normally maintains the leading end 31a of the tapewefttube'at the 'correct relative height to pass freely through the shed ofthe tape-warp. The tape weft tube 31, rearwardly of the leading'end 31ais inclined upwardly so that after said leading endhas passed throughthe shed of the tape warp i the inclined portion will engage the upperthreads of the tape 'warp. The continued movement of the tube willdeflect the leading end 31a downwardly by rotation of the tube3l'relative tothe arm 27 against the action of the spring 33. Thepurpose of the downward deflect of the leading edge of the tube 31 willbe explained later in the specification, and it is tobe understood thatit can be achieved by'other means than engagement with the tape warpthreads, such as by a suitably contoured cam. Theinovement of theinserting arms 26 and'27 is timed inrelation to the alternatin'g of thewarp shed so that the weft tubes 30 and 31'ma'kes one complete movementin each direction through the'warpsheds between each "change of positionof the warp sheds.

Mounted on the breast'beam 21 on the side of the warp sheds opposite thepin 23 is a member 36 having a hooked end 37. The hooked end 37 isdisposed relative to the path of travel of the band weft tube SG'to beengaged by the band weft thread 11 as the tube nears the end of themovement inthe inserting direction and hold the thread as'the tubemovesback or is withdrawn in the opposite direction. The hooked end 37of the'member T 36 is'spac ed from the edge of-the warp sheds a distanceT the fringe.

proportional to the required length of the free threads of The forwardface 39 (FIG. 6) of the hooked'end is inclined upwardlyand rearwardly sothat when the band weft thread engages s'aid fac the continued movementof the bandwefttub'eBtl will cause the thread toslide up "the face 39and'drop into the hook.

The separate weft threads are fed by a suitable known mechanismincluding aftensioning device, from reels to the respective weft tubes.

In operation thewarp. sheds of the band and the tape portions are setupin the previously described superimposed relation, Each set' of warpthreads are divided 'in' the usual manner so that in'each alternateoperating position the lower threads of the tape warp are in sub-"stantially' the same horizontal plane as the upper threads of the'bandwarp.

At the commencement of the oscillatory movement i'the tyvo weft tubes 30and 31 move forwardly through I the respective divided warps, the tapeWeft tube 31 being slightly in advance of the band weft tube 30 as canbe seen in FIG. 3.

.After. the leading end 31a of" the tape weft tube has passed completelythrough the tape warp the inclined porn tion of the tape weft tube 31engages the upper portion of the tape warp and its continued forwardmovement results in a downward tilting of the leading end 31a across theplane of travel of the band weft tube 30.

As the forward movement of both tubes continues the band weft tubepasses through the loop formed by the downwardly tilted tape weft tubeand the tape weft thread as shown in FIG. 4. 7

As the forward movements of the two weft tubes continue, the band weftthread engages the inclined face 39 of the hooked member 36 and thenslides up and over the top of the inclined facetobe located in the hookas shown in'FIG. 4. p a

I The two weft tubes have now reached the end of their forward movementsthrough the respective warps and now commence their reverse or returningmovement through the warps to their initial location. As the band wefttube; returns the band weft thread passes around the hook 337 so thatthe returning portion of the band weft thread extends across theinclined face 39 of' the hook.

During the returning movement of the two weft tubes the band weft tubeand thread again pass through-the loop formed by the tape weft tube andthread, and the camming action of the upper set of tape warp threadsengaging the tape weft tube results in an upward movement of said tube.

The band weft thread: remains in engagement with the hook 37 during thereturning movement of the band weft tube andthus an elongated loop isformed extending laterally from oneedge of the band warp. Furthermorethe tape weft thread'has beenpassed around the 'two lengths of band weftthread forming the laterally extending elongated loop and thus the bandand tape are positively inter locked.

-After the two weft tubes have completed the double pass through therespective warpsand returned to their initial position the reeds moveforward in the conventional manner to compact thenewly inserted weftthreads in the respective warps. This movement of the reeds also"effects release of the band Weft thread from the hook by engaging andapplying pressure tothe returning band weft threadto cause it to slide upand off the inclined face 39 of the hook.

The band 'weft thread usually consists of a highly twisted or live yarnso that uponiheing released from the hook the threads forming thelaterally extending elongated loop will automatic'allytwist' aroundeachother to form the conventional twisted free fringe thread. a

Apart from the twisting together of the threads'of the loop, the liveyarn will tend to fly or recoilback towards j thewarp sheds if releasedsuddenly from the book 37. -Accordingly the buffer 40 is, provided at alocation between the Warp sheds and the hook; and the threads of theloop are held against this buffer by the reeds while the loop isreleased from the hook.

'The above described cycle of operation produces one complete freefringe thread and the associated section of the integral band and tapeand' the cycle is then re.

i the length of the machine.

Iclaim: Y

A method of producing. in a single machine a composite fringe-having aband portion, a free thread portion,

- anda tape portion comprising weaving the band portion with transversethreadsexten ding beyond one longitudinal edge to form the free threadportion' of the fringe, simul- 'taneously weaving the tape portionandinterlocking the threads of the tape portion with threads of the bandportion along said longitudinal edge. 1

Z. A method of producing in a single machine acorn.

' posite fringe having a band portion, a free thread portion,

and .a .tape portion comprising forming band and tape warps .msuperimposed relation, weaving a continuous band weft thread through theband warp and extending said band weft thread a substantial distancebeyond one edge of said band warp to form threads of the free threadportion, simultaneously weaving a continuous tape weft thread throughthe tape warp and looping said tape weft thread at least once around thefree thread portion of the complementary band weft thread.

3. A method of producing a composite fringe as claimed in claim 2,wherein the weaving of the band weft thread comprises depositing saidband weft thread in said band warp by insertion in one direction toengage a thread holding member spaced from said band warp and thendepositing said band weft thread in said band warp by insertion in theopposite direction to form an elongated loop extending from said bandwarp to said holding member.

4. A method of producing a composite fringe as claimed in claim 3,wherein the weaving of the tape thread comprises depositing said tapeweft thread in the tape warp by insertion in said one direction, passingsaid tape weft thread around said band weft thread during the formationof said elongated loop, and then depositing said tape weft thread insaid tape warp by insertion in the opposite direction.

5. A weaving machine for making a composite fringe having a bandportion, a free thread portion and a tape portion comprising means forsupporting and subjecting superimposed band and tape warp to analternating weaving movement, means to pass a continuous band weftthread through the band warp so as to form a thread of the free threadportion on one side of said band warp, and means to pass a continuoustape weft thread through the tape warp, said tape weft thread passingmeans being arranged to loop the tape weft thread around the band weftthread once during each complete returning movement of the means to passthe tape weft thread.

6. A weaving machine for making a composite fringe having a bandportion, a free thread portion and a'tape portion comprising means forsupporting and subjecting superimposed band and tape warps to analternating weaving movement, means for depositing a band Weft thread inthe band warp by being successively inserted in oppo-' 'weft threadpassing means being arranged to form a loop in the tape weft threadthrough which the free thread portion is disposed intermediate theinserting movement of the tape weft thread in'the respective oppositedirections through the tape warp. V

7. A weaving machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the band and tapeweft thread passing means each com- 6 prise a tubular inserting memberthrough which the thread is drawn, and means to oscillate the respectiveinserting members through the associated warps in timed relation withthe alternations of the warps.

8. A weaving machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the oscillatingmeans comprise a shaft mounted for oscillatory angular movement aboutits axis, and a pair of radial arms each having mounted thereon one ofsaid inserting members.

9. A weaving machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tape weftinserting member is mounted on one of the respective radial arms forrelative angular movement about an axis perpendicular to the axis of theshaft.

10. A weaving machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the tape weftinserting member is so constructed and arranged that the leading end ofsaid member, after passing through the tape warp, defines with the tapeweft thread and the tape Warp a loop.

11. A weaving machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein means are providedto angularly move the tape weft inserting member relative to said arm soas to intersect the plane of the band weft inserting member, afterpassing through the tape warp, so that the band weft inserting membercan project through said loop.

12. A weaving machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tape weftinserting member has an upwardly inclined portion intermediate its endswhich is adapted to engage the tape warp after the leading end haspassed therethrough and to effect said angular movement upon furthermovement of said member through the tape warp.

13. A weaving machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein said inclinedportion is of such a length and so arranged that the tape weft insertingmember will be retained in a position intersecting the plane of the bandweft member for a period sufficient to permit the band weft member toproject through the loop, effect engagement of the band weft thread withthe thread holding means, and withdraw from the loop.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 835,834 .11/06Schlegel 139-385 2,238,432 4/41 Myers 139-383 2,355,532 8/44 Holmes139-22 7 2,416,098 2/47 Holt 139-22 2,469,202 5/49 Murdock et a1 139-222,912,015 11/59 Law 139-383 3,078,881 2/63 Arnold 139-124 FOREIGNPATENTS 357,310 11/05 France. 137,350 12/02 Germany.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner. RUSSELL c. MADER, Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF PRODUCING IN A SINGLE MACHINE A COMPOSITE FRINGE HAVING ABAND PORTION, A FREE THREAD PORTION, AND A TAPE PORTION COMPRISINGWEAVING THE BAND PORTION WITH TRANSVERSE THREADS EXTENDING BEYOND ONELONGITUDINAL EDGE TO FORM THE FREE THREAD PORTION ON THE FRINGE,SIMULTANEOUSLY WEAVING THE TAPE PORTION AND INTERLOCKING THE THREADS OFTHE TAPE PORTION WITH THREADS OF THE BAND PORTION ALONG SAIDLONGITUDINAL EDGE.